MATRIMONIAL FRAUD
Indian online matrimonial frauds
With the minimum KYC procedures to register on online matrimonial websites, the fraudster, initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most cases, the person poses to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meeting difficult.
Later, they appear for gullible profiles to fall into their trick. In most cases, the targets are widows or divorced, while some are elderly women trying to find life partners. Also, they look for targets who are economically sound.
Later, phone numbers, and email addresses are shared to extend personal communication and gain trust. Once the communication is established, the fraudsters delete the profiles from the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails or phone messengers.
After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold or wealth. All this money is asked for as an online transfer and therefore the person never meets the victim.
Once they receive the cash they never answer the victim which makes it difficult to trace.
How to save yourself from online matrimony fraud?
- Explore the assorted available online matrimonial websites
Do a decent Google search about the available online matrimonial platforms. check for reviews from registered users and find an appropriate one. Also, Most matrimonial websites adds a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, then you can take it forward with the person without thinking much.
Check out how genuine the website is before you register. Check that the site has good reviews from registered members.
- Do a profile check
While you consider online ways to search out your life partner, it’s extremely important that you just take this responsibility and do an intensive profile check. Check each detail carefully. Do a correct check on current and permanent address, their education and workplace etc. At any point you think that there’s a mismatch, you need to question the opposite person.
Once you choose to go ahead, decide whether details given about the individual’s qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a later stage.
Verify the details mentioned in the profile you’re interested in, and do a profile linked to social media platforms for further information about the person. If you can not find details on any social media, it’s a red flag
- Slow and steady wins the race
Marriage is a lifetime decision, and you can’t take a chance here. Life isn’t a race, make sure you take things slow. If you are feeling the opposite person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be stern to take a back step.
Do not share any personal or revealing photographs or videos
- Never involve yourself in the money business
No genuine person would ask you to lend money at an early stage of a relationship. It’s better to get into any financial transactions unless you’re double sure.
If the person demands money or property citing various reasons, report back to the matrimonial site.
- Meet personally before you’re taking a leap forward
If after chatting online and over the phone for a short time, you are feeling comfortable enough to meet them, go for it. Although you have your trust in them, set up a gathering at a restaurant or cafe alongside your loved one or close friends.
Red flags to identify Online Matrimonial Fraudsters:
- Are not willing to show their face, reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo might not be theirs, reluctant to meet in persons
- Ask for a money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount
- May not have a social profile or have few friends on social media
- Hesitate to share family/ workplace details
- Express “love” too quickly, even before fully understanding one another
- The profile looks too good to be true for that person to specific interest to you
- They call from multiple numbers. They sometimes don’t provide a number to call back. Even though they provide a number, they do not pick up after you call. Later, they call you back from a new number
- Sound inconsistent or confusing once you ask for personal details
- Are in a very mad rush for early marriage, without a legitimate reason
- Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting into touch with you.
- Ask for email username/ password or credit card/ bank account details
- Come up with false stories to gain sympathy.
The present scenario
Matrimonial sites come under ‘intermediaries’ within IT Act 2000. They’re liable for the frauds that are perpetrated through their sites. Matrimonial sites. But these websites have not implied any stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures in place and hence readily accept documents/facts provided by fake profiles, which lead to fraud being committed. With the rise in frauds through matrimonial sites, Cyber Law Due Diligence becomes a really important way to put an end to the utilization of matrimonial and dating sites as means of deception and fraud.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the Cyber Law of India that mandates observance of Cyber Law Due Diligence and Internet Intermediary Obligations in India. Cyber Law Due Diligence means taking Proper and due care and Caution while handling Online/Technological Transactions and Activities.
Indian online matrimonial frauds
With the minimum KYC procedures to register on online matrimonial websites, the fraudster, initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most cases, the person poses to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meeting difficult.
Later, they appear for gullible profiles to fall into their trick. In most cases, the targets are widows or divorced, while some are elderly women trying to find life partners. Also, they look for targets who are economically sound.
Later, phone numbers, and email addresses are shared to extend personal communication and gain trust. Once the communication is established, the fraudsters delete the profiles from the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails or phone messengers.
After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold or wealth. All this money is asked for as an online transfer and therefore the person never meets the victim.
Once they receive the cash they never answer the victim which makes it difficult to trace.
How to save yourself from online matrimony fraud?
- Explore the assorted available online matrimonial websites
Do a decent Google search about the available online matrimonial platforms. check for reviews from registered users and find an appropriate one. Also, Most matrimonial websites adds a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, then you can take it forward with the person without thinking much.
Check out how genuine the website is before you register. Check that the site has good reviews from registered members.
- Do a profile check
While you consider online ways to search out your life partner, it’s extremely important that you just take this responsibility and do an intensive profile check. Check each detail carefully. Do a correct check on current and permanent address, their education and workplace etc. At any point you think that there’s a mismatch, you need to question the opposite person.
Once you choose to go ahead, decide whether details given about the individual’s qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a later stage.
Verify the details mentioned in the profile you’re interested in, and do a profile linked to social media platforms for further information about the person. If you can not find details on any social media, it’s a red flag
- Slow and steady wins the race
Marriage is a lifetime decision, and you can’t take a chance here. Life isn’t a race, make sure you take things slow. If you are feeling the opposite person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be stern to take a back step.
Do not share any personal or revealing photographs or videos
- Never involve yourself in the money business
No genuine person would ask you to lend money at an early stage of a relationship. It’s better to get into any financial transactions unless you’re double sure.
If the person demands money or property citing various reasons, report back to the matrimonial site.
- Meet personally before you’re taking a leap forward
If after chatting online and over the phone for a short time, you are feeling comfortable enough to meet them, go for it. Although you have your trust in them, set up a gathering at a restaurant or cafe alongside your loved one or close friends.
Red flags to identify Online Matrimonial Fraudsters:
- Are not willing to show their face, reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo might not be theirs, reluctant to meet in persons
- Ask for a money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount
- May not have a social profile or have few friends on social media
- Hesitate to share family/ workplace details
- Express “love” too quickly, even before fully understanding one another
- The profile looks too good to be true for that person to specific interest to you
- They call from multiple numbers. They sometimes don’t provide a number to call back. Even though they provide a number, they do not pick up after you call. Later, they call you back from a new number
- Sound inconsistent or confusing once you ask for personal details
- Are in a very mad rush for early marriage, without a legitimate reason
- Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting into touch with you.
- Ask for email username/ password or credit card/ bank account details
- Come up with false stories to gain sympathy.
OVERVIEW
Over twenty years, online matrimonial sites have gained popularity in India, where most marriages are still arranged by parents. The entire traditional matchmaking process changed and was put aside when the wave of online matrimonies came into existence. Online matrimony sites are the perfect mixture of Indian traditional values and the latest technology for Indian bachelors to explore and find an ideal match for a lifetime. This boosted the demand for cyber services, like Matrimony.com Ltd., Jeevansathi.com and Shaadi.com, which operate searchable databases of marriage material. But, matrimonial sites aren’t completely safe. If you do not take certain precautions, there are chances that you simply may find yourself in regret. There has been an increase in the number of individuals who are cheated through matrimonial sites.
The present scenario
Matrimonial sites come under ‘intermediaries’ within IT Act 2000. They’re liable for the frauds that are perpetrated through their sites. Matrimonial sites. But these websites have not implied any stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures in place and hence readily accept documents/facts provided by fake profiles, which lead to fraud being committed. With the rise in frauds through matrimonial sites, Cyber Law Due Diligence becomes a really important way to put an end to the utilization of matrimonial and dating sites as means of deception and fraud.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the Cyber Law of India that mandates observance of Cyber Law Due Diligence and Internet Intermediary Obligations in India. Cyber Law Due Diligence means taking Proper and due care and Caution while handling Online/Technological Transactions and Activities.
Indian online matrimonial frauds
With the minimum KYC procedures to register on online matrimonial websites, the fraudster, initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most cases, the person poses to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meeting difficult.
Later, they appear for gullible profiles to fall into their trick. In most cases, the targets are widows or divorced, while some are elderly women trying to find life partners. Also, they look for targets who are economically sound.
Later, phone numbers, and email addresses are shared to extend personal communication and gain trust. Once the communication is established, the fraudsters delete the profiles from the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails or phone messengers.
After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold or wealth. All this money is asked for as an online transfer and therefore the person never meets the victim.
Once they receive the cash they never answer the victim which makes it difficult to trace.
How to save yourself from online matrimony fraud?
- Explore the assorted available online matrimonial websites
Do a decent Google search about the available online matrimonial platforms. check for reviews from registered users and find an appropriate one. Also, Most matrimonial websites adds a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, then you can take it forward with the person without thinking much.
Check out how genuine the website is before you register. Check that the site has good reviews from registered members.
- Do a profile check
While you consider online ways to search out your life partner, it’s extremely important that you just take this responsibility and do an intensive profile check. Check each detail carefully. Do a correct check on current and permanent address, their education and workplace etc. At any point you think that there’s a mismatch, you need to question the opposite person.
Once you choose to go ahead, decide whether details given about the individual’s qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a later stage.
Verify the details mentioned in the profile you’re interested in, and do a profile linked to social media platforms for further information about the person. If you can not find details on any social media, it’s a red flag
- Slow and steady wins the race
Marriage is a lifetime decision, and you can’t take a chance here. Life isn’t a race, make sure you take things slow. If you are feeling the opposite person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be stern to take a back step.
Do not share any personal or revealing photographs or videos
- Never involve yourself in the money business
No genuine person would ask you to lend money at an early stage of a relationship. It’s better to get into any financial transactions unless you’re double sure.
If the person demands money or property citing various reasons, report back to the matrimonial site.
- Meet personally before you’re taking a leap forward
If after chatting online and over the phone for a short time, you are feeling comfortable enough to meet them, go for it. Although you have your trust in them, set up a gathering at a restaurant or cafe alongside your loved one or close friends.
Red flags to identify Online Matrimonial Fraudsters:
- Are not willing to show their face, reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo might not be theirs, reluctant to meet in persons
- Ask for a money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount
- May not have a social profile or have few friends on social media
- Hesitate to share family/ workplace details
- Express “love” too quickly, even before fully understanding one another
- The profile looks too good to be true for that person to specific interest to you
- They call from multiple numbers. They sometimes don’t provide a number to call back. Even though they provide a number, they do not pick up after you call. Later, they call you back from a new number
- Sound inconsistent or confusing once you ask for personal details
- Are in a very mad rush for early marriage, without a legitimate reason
- Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting into touch with you.
- Ask for email username/ password or credit card/ bank account details
- Come up with false stories to gain sympathy.
OVERVIEW
Over twenty years, online matrimonial sites have gained popularity in India, where most marriages are still arranged by parents. The entire traditional matchmaking process changed and was put aside when the wave of online matrimonies came into existence. Online matrimony sites are the perfect mixture of Indian traditional values and the latest technology for Indian bachelors to explore and find an ideal match for a lifetime. This boosted the demand for cyber services, like Matrimony.com Ltd., Jeevansathi.com and Shaadi.com, which operate searchable databases of marriage material. But, matrimonial sites aren’t completely safe. If you do not take certain precautions, there are chances that you simply may find yourself in regret. There has been an increase in the number of individuals who are cheated through matrimonial sites.
The present scenario
Matrimonial sites come under ‘intermediaries’ within IT Act 2000. They’re liable for the frauds that are perpetrated through their sites. Matrimonial sites. But these websites have not implied any stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures in place and hence readily accept documents/facts provided by fake profiles, which lead to fraud being committed. With the rise in frauds through matrimonial sites, Cyber Law Due Diligence becomes a really important way to put an end to the utilization of matrimonial and dating sites as means of deception and fraud.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 is the Cyber Law of India that mandates observance of Cyber Law Due Diligence and Internet Intermediary Obligations in India. Cyber Law Due Diligence means taking Proper and due care and Caution while handling Online/Technological Transactions and Activities.
Indian online matrimonial frauds
With the minimum KYC procedures to register on online matrimonial websites, the fraudster, initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most cases, the person poses to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meeting difficult.
Later, they appear for gullible profiles to fall into their trick. In most cases, the targets are widows or divorced, while some are elderly women trying to find life partners. Also, they look for targets who are economically sound.
Later, phone numbers, and email addresses are shared to extend personal communication and gain trust. Once the communication is established, the fraudsters delete the profiles from the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails or phone messengers.
After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold or wealth. All this money is asked for as an online transfer and therefore the person never meets the victim.
Once they receive the cash they never answer the victim which makes it difficult to trace.
How to save yourself from online matrimony fraud?
- Explore the assorted available online matrimonial websites
Do a decent Google search about the available online matrimonial platforms. check for reviews from registered users and find an appropriate one. Also, Most matrimonial websites adds a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, then you can take it forward with the person without thinking much.
Check out how genuine the website is before you register. Check that the site has good reviews from registered members.
- Do a profile check
While you consider online ways to search out your life partner, it’s extremely important that you just take this responsibility and do an intensive profile check. Check each detail carefully. Do a correct check on current and permanent address, their education and workplace etc. At any point you think that there’s a mismatch, you need to question the opposite person.
Once you choose to go ahead, decide whether details given about the individual’s qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a later stage.
Verify the details mentioned in the profile you’re interested in, and do a profile linked to social media platforms for further information about the person. If you can not find details on any social media, it’s a red flag
- Slow and steady wins the race
Marriage is a lifetime decision, and you can’t take a chance here. Life isn’t a race, make sure you take things slow. If you are feeling the opposite person is forcing you to take things forward quickly, be stern to take a back step.
Do not share any personal or revealing photographs or videos
- Never involve yourself in the money business
No genuine person would ask you to lend money at an early stage of a relationship. It’s better to get into any financial transactions unless you’re double sure.
If the person demands money or property citing various reasons, report back to the matrimonial site.
- Meet personally before you’re taking a leap forward
If after chatting online and over the phone for a short time, you are feeling comfortable enough to meet them, go for it. Although you have your trust in them, set up a gathering at a restaurant or cafe alongside your loved one or close friends.
Red flags to identify Online Matrimonial Fraudsters:
- Are not willing to show their face, reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo might not be theirs, reluctant to meet in persons
- Ask for a money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount
- May not have a social profile or have few friends on social media
- Hesitate to share family/ workplace details
- Express “love” too quickly, even before fully understanding one another
- The profile looks too good to be true for that person to specific interest to you
- They call from multiple numbers. They sometimes don’t provide a number to call back. Even though they provide a number, they do not pick up after you call. Later, they call you back from a new number
- Sound inconsistent or confusing once you ask for personal details
- Are in a very mad rush for early marriage, without a legitimate reason
- Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting into touch with you.
- Ask for email username/ password or credit card/ bank account details
- Come up with false stories to gain sympathy.